What to Serve with Fish Tacos: 20 Terrific Side Dishes

We have often wondered what to serve with fish tacos. Those tender, delicious little seafood tacos deserve a fantastic side dish!

We searched long and hard to find the best sides to serve with fish tacos. Luckily there are quite a few great recipes that will help make your fish taco meal complete!

From sweet potato fries to perfect salsa chips, there is something on this list for everyone!

Best Sides for Fish Tacos

We found twenty incredible side dishes that all complement fish tacos. Take a look at the whole list before deciding what to try first. You may need to try them all!

1. Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice is a fantastic side for fish tacos, and we at Simple Green Moms have a great recipe. Our cilantro lime rice is loaded with flavor but is actually very easy to make.

The recipe starts with long grain rice or jasmine rice. The rice is cooked and mixed with fresh chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice.

Scoop some of the cilantro lime rice into your fish taco or serve it on the side. It is delicious either way!

2. Refried Beans

Refried beans are a classic side for any kind of tacos. They go especially well with fish tacos as they help to make the meal heartier and more filling.

This recipe for easy refried beans from Cookie and Kate is exactly what you need to make if you are wondering what to serve with fish tacos. The recipe uses canned pinto beans, so there is no need to soak beans and wait days for them to be ready.

The delicious blend of chili powder, cumin, and garlic will go well with your tacos. This refried beans recipe is Mexican food at its finest!

3. Caesar Salad

Caesar salad is often served with fish tacos, and we know why. It is a crisp, fresh-tasting side dish that goes really well with tender, salty fish tacos.

The anchovy taste of the salad dressing mimics the flavor of the fish in the tacos. The homemade salad dressing in this recipe from Once Upon a Chef is especially amazing. All you need is olive oil, garlic, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and anchovy paste.

Try making the Caesar salad dressing with lime juice for an interesting twist. It will make the salad have a Mexican flair that goes well with the fish tacos.

4. Cucumber Salad

A creamy, crispy cucumber salad is a great side dish for fish tacos. The nice crunch of the salad is delicious with the tender fish tacos. A cucumber salad is also a nice way to add some veggies to your meal.

We love this recipe from Lemon Tree Dwelling. It is made with sliced cucumbers and onions. The fresh dill is a good contrast for the sometimes spicy fish tacos.

Feel free to add a little cayenne pepper or cumin to the cucumber salad to make it have a nice kick.

5. Mexican Corn Pudding

This delicious corn pudding from Dinner at the Zoo is an incredible side dish to serve with fish tacos. It is sweet, tender, and has just a little bit of spice.

We especially love that this Mexican corn pudding is big enough to serve a crowd. A fish taco bar and a big tray of corn pudding sound like a delicious meal!

Stir up the batter, and this Mexican corn pudding will be ready in just a matter of minutes. It is the perfect answer to what to serve with grilled fish tacos.

6. Black Bean Soup

Black bean soup is a perfect side dish for fish tacos, especially in the cooler months. There is nothing like a bowl of soup to warm you up!

Black bean soup can be made chunky or creamy. We love this recipe from Simply Recipes which keeps some of the black beans whole, giving you nice pieces in every sip.

Top your black bean soup with sour cream, fresh tomatoes, and fresh cilantro to add flavor and a nice garnish. You can use the same toppings on your fish tacos!

7. Mango Guacamole

Mango guacamole is a little bit sweet and a little bit savory. It is the perfect blend of flavors that everyone in your family will love. This recipe from Super Healthy Kids is kid-approved and also easy to make.

We love mango guacamole scooped right into fish tacos. The creamy avocados and sweet mango go so well with the tender fish.

You can also serve mango guacamole as a side dish with some tortilla chips. Be sure to make the guacamole fresh, so it says a pretty, bright green color.

8. Mexican Fried Dough

Mexican fried dough is also called sopapillas. It is a perfect dessert to serve after your fish tacos dinner. This recipe from A Cozy Kitchen will show you how to make perfect, warm sopapillas that are totally drool-worthy.

The dough is made from simple ingredients like flour, water, and sugar. A little cinnamon gives the fried dough a nice spice. Drizzle some fresh honey and powdered sugar over the deep-fried dough, and you will be in dessert heaven.

9. Jalapeno Poppers

Jalapeño poppers are an incredible appetizer to serve before a fish taco dinner. They also are a yummy side dish and taste yummy alongside any kind of fish tacos. This easy recipe from Lil Luna makes tender, spicy jalapeño poppers that you are sure to love.

Whole jalapenos are sliced in half and stuffed with a cream cheese filling. The peppers are baked until golden brown and best when eaten warm.

Jalapeño poppers are a Mexican staple and the answer to the question of what to serve with fish tacos.

10. Mexican Street Corn

Mexican street corn is a Mexican classic that is often served with fish tacos. It is an easy side dish to make and is also great to scoop directly into fish tacos. Some grilled fish, a soft tortilla, and a big scoop of Mexican street corn salad make a perfect taco!

This recipe for Jo Cooks will help you make incredible Mexican street corn salad. Cotija cheese adds a salty, creamy texture to the salad. Use feta cheese if you can’t find cotija cheese in your local store.

11. Stuffed Avocados

Planning a Taco Tuesday? You should definitely include these stuffed avocados from The Recipe Critic on your menu. They are super filling and not too hard to make. They will compliment your fish tacos perfectly!

Choose ripe avocados which have a soft, creamy texture. Give your avocado a little squeeze to see if it is ripe. A ripe avocado will give a little when squeezed. If it is hard as a rock, you should wait a few more days.

12. Salsa Chips

There is nothing quite as tasty as fresh, homemade salsa. Some salsa, chips, and fish tacos sound like a delicious meal for any day of the week.

Give this salsa recipe from A Spicy Perspective a try. It is made with fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic powder, jalapeno, fresh lime juice, olive oil, and cilantro. It is a great condiment to scoop into your fish tacos or serve on the side with some tortilla chips.

One bite of this salsa, and you will never wonder what to serve with fish tacos again! The answer is clearly fresh salsa.

13. Tex Mex Salad

A tasty bowl of chopped Tex Mex salad is a perfect side dish to serve with fish tacos. This salad from Little Broken is so full of delicious ingredients that your taste buds are going to go crazy.

Fresh corn kernels, tomatoes, mango pieces, and black beans are just a few of the ingredients in the Tex Mex salad. The fresh fruit addition makes the salad have a sweet and spicy taste that is really great.

14. Sweet Potato Fries

A big plate of sweet potato fries and fish tacos sounds like a combination of delicious recipes we definitely want! Making sweet potato fries is not hard at all. All you need are a few sweet potatoes, olive oil, and some seasonings.

Give this recipe from Tastes better From Scratch a try. It will guide you toward making delicious, crispy sweet potato fries that are delicious with any type of fish tacos.

Make the recipe straight as written, or try seasoning the fries with some cayenne pepper or ground cumin. This makes the fries complement the main dish even better. That sweet and spicy taste is perfect with all the flavors in fish tacos.

15. Pico de Gallo

Pico de gallo is one of the most classic side dishes in Mexican food. The tomatoes, onions, and peppers complement so many dishes, and this is definitely true about pico de gallo and fish tacos. They are perfect together!

Use this recipe from Show Me The Yummy. It is very quick to make and only requires a few ingredients. Red onion, diced tomatoes, jalapenos, and a little lime juice are mixed with simple salt and pepper.

Scoop the pico de gallo into your fish taco or serve it on the side with some tortilla chips.

16. Mexican Coleslaw

You may not think of coleslaw as being a Mexican food, but this recipe from Lemon Tree Dwelling will definitely change your mind. It is one of the best side dishes for fish tacos we have tried!

Shredded cabbage, red pepper, canned black beans, and grilled corn are just a few of the great ingredients in this coleslaw. Mayonnaise, sour cream, and taco seasonings make the flavors come to life.

This coleslaw is a great taco topping and also a yummy salad. It will quickly become one of your favorite recipe options!

17. Dulce De Leche Ice Cream

Try your hand at making this classic Mexican dessert using this recipe from The Crumbly Kitchen. Dulce de leche is essentially super-rich caramel. The ice cream has a smooth texture that is irresistible.

Finish your fish taco meal and then move on to perfect dulce de leche ice cream. It is a great sweet dessert to enjoy after salty, flaky fish.

18. Flan

Creamy, smooth flan may just be one of our favorite side dishes to serve with fish tacos. Knowing there is a homemade flan waiting makes you want to finish your fish tacos faster!

Make this flan from Cooking Classy. It is a great make-ahead dessert and will stay fresh for days after baking.

Be sure to watch the caramel as it cooks. Overcooking the caramel will give the flan a burned taste. Keep an eye on that cooking sugar, and you will get a perfect, authentic dessert.

19. Queso Dip

Queso is everywhere right now. It is definitely one of the most popular side dishes on our list! The cheesy taste of queso dishes complements fish tacos perfectly.

Make this white queso recipe from The Cookie Rookie. The dip is made with mozzarella cheese and white American cheese as the main cheeses.

Jalapenos and green chilis help make the dip a little bit spicy. A touch of nutmeg adds earthy flavors that you will adore.

Serve the queso dip on the side of your fish tacos with some chips. You may want to drizzle some queso into your fish tacos as taco toppings!

20. Tortilla Soup

This recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything may be the best tortilla soup we have ever had. The blend of spices is perfect, and the shredded chicken in the soup makes it hearty and delicious.

Tortilla soup is a great appetizer to a fish taco dinner. Try adding some Mexican corn, fresh basil, or even a scoop of Mexican rice or long-grained rice to make the soup heartier.

Tortilla soup is definitely what to serve with fish tacos.

Amazing Sides for Fish Tacos

Hopefully, you now know exactly what to serve with fish tacos. From Mexican rice to stuffed avocados, the options are endless!

Stick to the Mexican theme and give some of the side dishes on our list a try. They will make your fish tacos even better! Enjoy.